Pot bust nets 58 plants

The Ray County Sheriff’s Department seized 58 marijuana plants from the property of a rural Ray County man yesterday afternoon. The man was placed on a 24-hour hold and will be formally charged by the Ray County Prosecutor’s office today.
According to Lt. Brian Bush, the marijuana was found in two 10’x15’ rooms in a large outbuilding on the man’s property. The walls and ceiling were covered in silver mylar with large grow lights, simulating a greenhouse. The plants were in different stages of growth. Some of the mature plants confiscated were found drying in a suitcase.
Bush said the Sheriff’s Department received information about a person purchasing chemicals and mylar, which he said are materials conducive to growing marijuana. Numerous chemicals, such as root stimulator, pruning sealer and pH chemicals for soil were also taken in the raid, along with water ing devices.
Ray County Prosecutor Jim Thompson said he considers this setup to be a “grow operation.”
The Missouri Highway Patrol assisted in the investigation.
Photo: Ray County Sheriff’s Department seized 58 marijuana plants from two rooms in a large outbuilding in rural Ray County yesterday afternoon. Deputies received a search warrant and confiscated the plants, large grow lights and chemicals used in growing the plants.